LabCorp donates vans toward local efforts to feed the hungry

By Molly McGowan / Times-News

Published: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 05:39 PM.

Collecting donations for their food pantries has become a whole lot easier for Allied Churches of Alamance County and The Salvation Army of Alamance County, now that they each have a brand new cargo van.

LabCorp, based in Burlington, donated a Chevy Express Cargo Van to each organization, to assist in feeding the hungry of Alamance County after the closure of the largest food pantry in the area last fall.

“When this community needed them most, these two agencies stepped up to feed the hungry,” LabCorp Chairman and CEO David P. King said in a news release. “We are delighted to provide these vans to help Allied Churches and The Salvation Army continue their good work. We are also proud of how our employees support their efforts with food drives and other assistance in the community.”

Last year when Loaves & Fishes of Alamance County closed abruptly, LabCorp was one of several local companies that held a food drive among its employees to assist the two local agencies that stepped up to take over Loaves & Fishes’ role. LabCorp, a leader in medical testing nationwide, is Alamance County’s largest employer.

LabCorp employees collected more than 12,000 pounds for Allied Churches and The Salvation Army, and the company is planning a second large food drive for March.

Collecting donations for their food pantries has become a whole lot easier for Allied Churches of Alamance County and The Salvation Army of Alamance County, now that they each have a brand new cargo van.

LabCorp, based in Burlington, donated a Chevy Express Cargo Van to each organization, to assist in feeding the hungry of Alamance County after the closure of the largest food pantry in the area last fall.

“When this community needed them most, these two agencies stepped up to feed the hungry,” LabCorp Chairman and CEO David P. King said in a news release. “We are delighted to provide these vans to help Allied Churches and The Salvation Army continue their good work. We are also proud of how our employees support their efforts with food drives and other assistance in the community.”

Last year when Loaves & Fishes of Alamance County closed abruptly, LabCorp was one of several local companies that held a food drive among its employees to assist the two local agencies that stepped up to take over Loaves & Fishes’ role. LabCorp, a leader in medical testing nationwide, is Alamance County’s largest employer.

LabCorp employees collected more than 12,000 pounds for Allied Churches and The Salvation Army, and the company is planning a second large food drive for March.

Meanwhile, both agencies are already benefiting from the cargo vans.

Kim Crawford, executive director of Allied Churches, said the organization was already providing transportation for its shelter residents.

“We never planned on having a food pantry,” so didn’t have an extra vehicle to pick up donations, Crawford said. “Food pickups are generally done in the morning, which is the exact same time our residents need to get to doctor appointments … or school, or job interviews.

“The same vehicle had to do all the food pickups,” she said.

The new cargo van frees up the existing vehicle for transportation services, and is large enough to transport food donations from local stores and collection areas.

“It’s fantastic,” Crawford said. “It’s probably one of the best donations we’ve gotten for a really long time.”